Farmers of the northern districts have started harvesting Aus paddy in a jovial mood as they are expecting a bumper yield and good market price.
Many farmers have shifted to Aus crop from other crop to earn more profit.
Sources at the department of Agriculture extension said the farmers have already harvested the crop on 68.66 per cent of totally cultivated land area.
According to BSS, the farmers completed harvest of the crop on 27,890 hectares of land in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts.
Our Rangpur Correspondent says: Farmers of the district have started harvesting Aus paddy this season.
Sources said the land area of Aus farming has increased this year.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur, official sources said Aus paddy was cultivated on about 20,150 hectares of land in eight upazilas under the district this year which is almost double in comparison with last year's cultivation of the same.
DAE sources said after harvesting Boro paddy, the cropland remains absolutely fallow from Bengali months of Baishakh to Shrabon. During this period the farmers here are cultivating Aus to produce an additional crop.
Joynal Mia of Tilokpara village at Mithapukur upazila in the district told The Financial Express that he cultivated BRRI dhan-48 (a variety of Aus) this season and is delighted to get a good yield.
Farmers can start harvesting the BRRI dhan-48 paddy within 100 to 110 days from the date of transplantation of the seedlings. A farmer can harvest 50-60 maunds of paddy on an average from one acre of land. Its irrigation cost is also lower and production is higher than many other varieties of paddy, he added.
A farmer Nazrul (50) of Nabdiganj village under Pirgachha upazila expressed his satisfaction over the farming of Aus. "I cultivated Barshali, a variety of Aus on two bighas of land and am expecting at least 30 maunds of paddy this year", he said. The cultivation of this paddy is more lucrative than the cultivation of Boro paddy, he further said.
Use of modern technology has boosted the production of the crop in recent times, DAE officials said.
Our Roving correspondent from Joypurhat adds: Farmers of the district have started harvesting Aus paddy.
A good number of Aus growers said they are expecting a good yield and fair market price this season.
Farmers of Akkelpur, Kalai, Khetlal, Panchbibi and Sadar upazilas of the district have brought a vast tract of land under the farming of Aus after harvesting Boro paddy, said sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said the department provided all support to the peasants to make the Aus farming a success.
Aus cultivation is increasing as it ensures a handsome profit within very a short time.
To cultivate Aus paddy on a bigha of land the farmers generally spend Tk 5,500 to Tk 6,000, said Shahadat Hossain of Madhaipukur village under Akkelpur upazila.
"I have brought some 22 decimals of land under Aus cultivation spending Tk 4,500 this season," said farmer Lokman Hossain of Khetlal upazila.